Being the final race of the Spring Series  2016, there were some positions at the top and in the middle of the rankings that would be decided dependent upon the results of this LAST race!! Tension and excitement was in the air as thirteen helms and three crews took to the water. It was great to welcome Cara for her first race of the season, who was helming a 303 with James as her crew.

The course had been set and was up on the Black Board down on the Foreshore by 10.00. With the prevailing wind from the West, the Start line was between the Race Boat and Mark K, with the first leg requiring a lengthy beat upwind and rounding the windward Mark B to starboard, followed by a run downwind rounding Mark C to starboard before a reach across the lake back to Mark K to complete the lap. The wind’s strength varied during the race between 15 knot gusts to a bare 2 knot puff!! The timing of the stronger wind effected the outcome of this race…since it didn’t appear until 15 minutes after the first boat (Ann Frewer’s 2.3) had started . That meant the faster boats (the 2.4s and Martins) started sailing with a very decent 10 knot breeze to help them catch up with the Liberty’s and 303s which had been struggling for most of the 15 minutes they had been racing! You can see from the schematic below the result of this effect, nevertheless it is to the 2.3 and 303 helms’ credits that they managed to keep their lead over the 2.4s and Martins for so long into the race :)!

THE FINAL RACE OF THE SPRING SERIES and SOME BEAUTIFUL CLOUD FORMATIONS at Chipstead

RACE LEADER (Ann Frewer) BEING HAULED IN BY CHASING 303s

DAVID MASON WORKING HARD TO MAKE THE MOST OF HIS SPEEDY 2.4

Final Result 1. Kim; 2. Cara/James; 3. Peter W; 4. David Mason; 5. Mike B; 6. Steve; 7. Mark Cayzer/John; 8. Ann Frewer; 9. Andy Wallace; 10. Bob; 11. Fay Watson/Diana; 12. Brain Mac; 13. Bill Garry

Everything looked perfect when the WS volunteers turned up at Chipstead Lake between 8am and 9am to get all the boats ready for what turned out to be a very busy day.  The sun was plentiful and there was a nice breeze which ruffled the sails as we unfurled them and attached them to their booms. With this reasonable breeze coming from the N / NNW, Bob Marsh set a simple course with an initial Beat from the Start Line at Mark K to the windward Mark C – which had been dragged 50 yards into the lake to avoid the possibility of it being affected by any wind-shadow – and then a Reach across to Mark A, followed by a Run downwind back to complete the Course at Mark K.  Also (ever thoughtful) Bob had set a Starboard Hand Marker between Marks A and K to keep boats out of an area of the lake where the weed has got thick and is not far below the water surface.  

So all was ready for the Race and a good-sized fleet of WS Racers, in 303s, Libertys, Martins and a 2.4, were on the water around 11am BUT……the wind had already started to show some signs of wanting to challenge the Racers!! The wind became very variable, both in direction (trying out all points of the compass!) and strength (from an acceptable 5 knots to absolutely zilch). So Bob and I went around the lake collecting a few boats to ensure that they would be close to the Start Line rather than bobbing about 500 yards away when the Race started. The start sequence ran smoothly and everybody, except Peter W, managed to start racing soon after their Start Whistle was blasted. Peter was clearly in a very generous mood and was being very cool, as he was going round in circles for 5 minutes, before starting!!

The schematic below shows how little wind blew during the Race (just over a solitary Lap was sailed). So….many many congratulations to all ten helms and four crews who managed to control any frustrations they may have had as a result of the wind gods deciding not to play with them! Sitting in the Race Boat, Bob and I could see how powerless most of you were, but whenever there was any puff of breeze, Peter Gregory’s red torpedo impressed as it got moving and accelerated up through the fleet and then away into a far distant lead – or at least 600 yards – by the time the race ended at 12.05! We determined  the Race finishing order by going backwards down the fleet and hoping that none of you had managed to overtake before we got to you.

Sometimes you find a really honest person who just refuses to accept a reward not due to them  –  and as I was having my lunch just such someone came and told me that they had interfered inadvertently with another boat during the race which had stopped that boat being in front of them when the Race Finish whistle blast sounded!! I was pleased to correct the official Race record!!

I cannot conclude my report without mentioning the absence of Bob and Steve (probably still chasing after that Beast in the forest!), however, it would not surprise me if Bob had a word or two to say about what happened out on the lake today.  I thought I noticed a Spitfire – or maybe a Hurricane – buzzing around above us… was it an eye in the sky?

Final Result 1. Peter G; 2. Mark Cayzer/James; 3. Brian Mac; 4. Katriona/Maggie; 5. Fay/John Douglas; 6. Kim Sparkes; 7. Mike B; 8. Lisa/Tony; 9. David Mason; 10. Peter W

What a great day to storm any Bastille-like challenge – such as another Race in the WS Spring Series!! The overall WS Racers’ Positions have been updated on the Series Chart and the Lap Position Chart is shown below. Well done to David Mason and Andy Wallace for chipping away at the overall score for their five best places in all their qualifying  races. David has moved up to 2nd equal with Kim and Andy is 10th equal with Brian! Only two more Races to go before we complete this Series.

Excellent race reporting below by Bob Fisher – his insight amazes me, although I feel that the Trustees may wish to invite him in for an interview and some tests on his eyesight and hearing before validating the report. I have heard about a wild beastie missing from its normal sanctuary in Kent and that its keeper was leaving food out to encourage it to come home – so maybe Mike C might try that trick (it certainly works for my wife when she wants me back home from my travels to cut the grass etc.)!

As Bob points out, Peter G in his red torpedo, with its shiny new white sails, did do incredibly well as he pretty rapidly overhauled every boat on the lake in front of him  and then started to lap a few of the tail enders. He was sailing so fast that his momentum seemed to keep him moving forward and overtaking other boats even through the 5 minutes of lull that descended upon the lake during the third lap causing everybody else to stop in their tracks! Nevertheless the chart below shows how well Paul, Steve and Brian did in keeping themselves at the front of the race (albeit behind Peter G) for so long. And Brian Mac was sailing so well that he may well have held onto his  4th place if  he hadn’t  interpreted my shout of “Well done Brian”, as he was heading towards Mark K for the fourth time, as: “You’ve just finished the Race” instead of “KEEP GOING since you’ve got lots of folk breathing down your transom!”  Next time we looked in his direction, Bob  Marsh and I were astounded  to see Brian heading in and so Bob called the pontoon on the radio to ask them to tell Brian that the race was still on! But too late, Brian had decided to give up his 4th place in favour of a nice hot cuppa tea!

The handicapping system that delays the Start time between the boat classes really highlights how important it is for the 303s to get a  REALLY GOOD START and then push on as hard as they can – because you know that  the Liberty helms (if they can steer – sorry about your problems Mike, Kim and Peter, but it seems that weed  may have got  entangled around your rudders/keel) will  only be 1 minute behind you. And although 9 or 10 minutes  sounds like a long time, you have all seen how fast the 2.4 and  Martin can be sailed once they have been let loose and when there is a half decent wind!  

In conclusion, it was really great to see all 13 entrants having so much fun on the water, trying to out sail each other, and then to listen over lunch to all the stories of who had done what to whom – whilst knowing that I would have to wait until I read the unexpurgated version in Bob’s unofficial Race Report (below!) 

I am already looking forward to next week’s race – have a good week in the meanwhile. Cheers, Peter 

Final Result: 1. Peter G; 2. David Mason; 3. Paul Varney/Tony; 4. Kim; 5. Steve; 6. Malcolm Hill/Mike Mackenzie; 7. Andy Wallace/Anne; 8. Ann Frewer/James; 9. Peter W; 10. Fay/John Douglas; 11. Bob F; Retired:  Brian Mac and Mike B

Last Thursday (7th July) was a fabulous summer’s day and close to perfect for sailing at Chipstead. Lots of sun and reasonable 6 knot W / SW wind with some 10 knot gusts!! And it was great to be back at Chipstead after my five week absence to find 14 WS Racers eager to get on-the-water and be ready for the Start at 11.30.  There were eight 303s – five of which had crews to assist, two Liberty’s, three 2.4s and a solitary Martin! What a turn out…  with all the leaders of the Spring Series ready to do battle.  Peter Gregory was present and he is now sailing just for the pleasure of the occasion, having grabbed the top step on the podium with 5 first places  from his 6 races to-date! A great performance and building on his competing in his 2.4 elsewhere for a few weeks earlier in the season. It was good to meet Andy Wallace who has become a regular Racer in the last month and to welcome Hash, Kelly and Lisa to the Spring Series.

Mike Coleman offered his services before the race to answer Racers’ questions and demonstrate sailing techniques on-the-water. Since all the early arrivals wanted to get out and enjoy the conditions, he had a number of takers!! Some with more success than others….Bob Fisher followed Mike’s instruction to pull in his main sheet and …..had to return to the pontoon to have 250 litres of the lake removed from his 303! Well done for trying Bob since that is what training/learning is all about – but nasty Chipstead gusts can upset the best of sailors.  Everyone who wanted to race was milling around the Start line in good time to listen out for the 5 Minute Whistle!

The course had been set and was up on the Race Board from 1000. With the prevailing wind coming from the West, the Start line was between the Race boat and Mark D, with the first leg requiring a lengthy beat upwind to round the windward Mark B to starboard, followed by a run downwind with a gybe around Mark C to starboard and another run on a starboard tack back to Mark D to complete the course.

Whilst some of the volunteer Crews appeared to be unclear about the 5-4-1-0 starting sequence (because they asked what EVERY whistle blast meant), all the Racers knew what was going on and showed that they have got to grips with the Start Procedure.  Although it is difficult to keep your boat close to  the Start Line in the final minutes before the Start, some helms did just that and were rewarded by getting across the Start Line straight after their respective Start Whistle. Congratulations to Hash  and Mark for good starts in their Double-handed 303s, Bob for his flyer in his 303, Kim ditto in her Liberty and Andy in his Martin! Well done!

The schematic below shows how well Kim and the 303s held their own against the faster classes. By the end of the 35 minute race we see that Kim kept  in front of Peter Gregory (by just a few metres) to win,  with Mike making the most of his 2.4’s speed to overhaul Steve who was the first 303, just ahead of Hash/Helen in their 303 and Andy/Ann in their Martin.  That was a sterling performance Steve – and no 360s this week!

All the Racers were challenged by a major wind-shift half way through race, as it moved from W to SW and then back to W. Those racers (particularly Peter G) who recognised the shift early were able to make the most of the nearly straight line tack from the downwind Mark D to the windward Mark B during the 2nd and 3rd laps.

Whilst I have been away, Racers’ finishing positions have been determined as they should be for a Pursuit Race – by the Race Boat being up with the winning boat and after blowing the final whistle (35/40 Minutes), moving back down the course to record the order that boats are in. This means that if another boat overtakes you AFTER the final whistle then point out to the other Helm that YOU were in front when the Race ENDED. And check your position with Race Officer if in doubt.

NB. The main reason for the change in the Finish Procedure is to help the Session Manager get enough volunteers and boats off the water in time to have some lunch and be ready to assist with the start of the afternoon session. 

Final Result: 1. Kim; 2. Peter G; 3. Mike B; 4. Steve; 5. Has/helen; 6. Andy/Ann; 7. Ann F; 8. Lisa/Pippa; 9. Bob F; 10. Mark/Kat; 11. Peter W; 12. Kelly/John; 13. Fay/Rick; 14. Brian Mac

So another race is done, and what a good race it turned out to be! Considering that during the morning whilst we were trying to plan the course, there was virtually no wind and it looked as though it would stay that way…
But some wind did eventually fill-in from the South West, and a course was set of; the start line between the committee boat and Mark-C, heading up to Mark-A (taken to starboard), over to Mark-B (again taken to starboard), then back around Mark-C (you’ve guessed it, on starboard again).

When the race was eventually started at 11:30, Steve Farmer made a cracking start, flying into a good lead over the other 303’s, with Ann heading the chasing pack of Mark, Bob, Brian & Fay. Three minutes later Andy Wallace in the lone Liberty joined the chase.
Then 10 minutes after the first start, and just as the first of the 303’s finished their first lap, the pack of much faster boats of three 2.4mR’s and two Martin’s, lead by Peter Gregory, also joined the race and slowly began the task of unwinding the lead the 303’s had gained. Steve kept the lead for the first 2 laps, eventually being overtaken by Ann on the 3rd lap. But behind them, Peter G was gradually pulling back the leaders and eventually he gained the lead on the 4th lap.

Results: 1.Peter G, 2.Ann, 3.Steve, 4.David, 5.Peter W, 6.Bob, 7.Mark, 8.Malcolm, 9.Brian, 10.Fay, 11.Mike, 12.Andy.